Sunday, May 31, 2009

A Whedon-less Buffy movie?, no thanks.

Players meeting with writers for new take on the franchise

By Borys Kit

May 25, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

A new incarnation of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" could be coming to the big screen.

"Buffy" creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.

While Whedon is the person most associated with "Buffy," Kuzui and her Kuzui Enterprises have held onto the rights since the beginning, when she discovered the "Buffy" script from then-unknown Whedon. She developed the script while her husband put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.

Kuzui later teamed with Gail Berman, then president of Sandollar Television, bringing back Whedon to make the TV series, which was produced by Fox TV and launched on the WB in 1997. Kuzui and Sandollar received executive producer credits on "Buffy" and its spinoff, "Angel."
The new "Buffy" film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike. Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon, putting the parties in a similar situation faced by Paramount, J.J. Abrams and his crew when relaunching "Star Trek."

One of the underlying ideas of "Buffy" allows Vertigo and Kuzui to do just that: that each generation has its own vampire slayer to protect it. The goal would be to make a darker, event-sized movie that would, of course, have franchise potential.

The parties are meeting with writers and hearing takes, and later will look for a home for the project. The producers do not rule out Whedon's involvement but have not yet reached out to him.Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said the company is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for "Buffy." When Vertigo's Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.

"It was Roy's interest in taking Buffy into a new place that grabbed us," she said, noting that original exec producer Sandy Gallin also was consulted. "It was based on our respect for what he does, and his particular sensitivity to Asian filmmakers, that we wanted to work with him."

Kuzui, who is prepping do direct a movie in Japan in the fall, added: "Everything has its moment. Every movie takes on a life at some point, and this seems like the moment to do this."

Source: THR.com

I've always thought if the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast were to reunite it would be for a movie.

But I always pictured the t.v. cast not the movie cast from which the show was born. Because let's face it that movie sucked (no pun intended).

A movie based on the t.v. show and it's characters would be much more bankable in my opinion.

To not include Joss Whedon on top of everything else is just stupidity in by book.

On the other hand I don't think even his brilliance could save this disastrous idea.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Martina Hingis a definite 'no' to a WTA comeback

AFP

May 28, 2009 07:51pm

FORMER world No.1 Martina Hingis said today she was unlikely to make another comeback to competitive tennis after her doping ban.

"Many people ask when I will play again. But it would be too much of a burden to make it back to the top again," Hingis told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper.

"I do not think I still have the will and the strength to produce that kind of a performance again," she added.

Hingis, now 29, tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007 and later announced her retirement.

Although the Swiss player reiterated on Thursday she had not taken the drug, an independent Anti-Doping Tribunal found she had committed an offence and she was banned for two years until October 2009.

Hingis won 43 WTA singles titles during a career stretching back to 1994, including five grand slams.

The ban cut short a comeback she began in 2006 after a three-year retirement, but Hingis suggested that another change of heart was unlikely.

She said she was content with her current life and did not have the desire to stress herself by running from tournament to tournament.

"But playing a few more exhibitions, that would appeal to me," she said, also suggesting she would like to help young players.


Source: HeraldSun.com.au

Well, she just slashed any cinders of hope hard-core Hingis fans (like myself) may have had. Too bad.

I really think she could make another go at it. But I can't blame her for not wanting to try.

I am going to miss her court ingenuity and personality no matter how much time goes by.

Glad to hear that she's still going to be helping young players out. Who knows perhaps one day we'll see her on court again as a coach.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Joss Whedon says yes to Summer Glau on 'Dollhouse'

Question: With Sarah Connor Chronicles canceled, please tell me there is a possibility of Summer Glau making an appearance on Dollhouse! --Jenn
Ausiello:
The noise you're about to hear is the sound of the Whedonverse exploding. Joss confirms to me exclusively that, well, he's one step ahead of you. "If anybody thinks [bringing Summer onto Dollhouse] hasn't occurred to me already then they have not met me," he says. "I mentioned it to her before [SCC] was canceled. I was like, 'You know, we should get you in the 'house.' But first we have to come up with something that works." And casting her as a doll would not work, insists Whedon. "Summer would be perfect to play an active, but she's done that [type of role] a lot," he says. "I'd rather see her play someone who talks too much. The most fun I have is when I get somebody who's good and comfortable at doing something, and then I make them do something else. Summer said to me, 'I would like to play a normal girl before I die of extreme old age.'" Got any ideas? Head to the comments section!

I have a couple of ideas. How about a new love interest for Paul Ballard, or even better how about Topher.

After all geeky geniuses need love too;).

Source: EW.com

Thursday, May 28, 2009

How to do an effective anti-drug ad

This is one of the most disturbingly disgusting ads I've seen in a while. But I guess it accomplishes it's goal.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Why Does My Body Do That?

Have you ever wanted to know why we yawn, sneeze, hiccup or maybe why our ears ring?.

Well here are some explanations.

Whether uncomfortable, embarrassing or just plain weird, there are some pretty funky things that our bodies do. Curious about the causes of such reactions as hiccups, goose bumps and eye twitches, we spoke with Eric Plasker, DC, author of The 100 Year Lifestyle, to get the real scoop. Read on to discover the common reasons for 14 peculiar bodily functions.

Yawns

If your body is low on oxygen, your mouth opens wide and tries to suck more in. Yawning is a way to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. Unfortunately, yawns are nearly impossible to stifle.

Eye Twitches

Serious eye twitches can be a symptom of neurological disorders, but often there is a more mundane explanation. Common causes for eye twitches include stress, lack of sleep, extended staring or eye strain. Before you get frantic, try reducing your stress level, cutting back on caffeine and catching up on sleep.

Itches

According to Dr. Plasker, our skin most often gets itchy because of dryness associated with the environment or over-washing—water and soap can strip skin of its natural oils, thus sapping moisture. Face or body lotion should be able to keep these types of itches under control; also look for body washes and soaps labeled “moisturizing.” If you still have itchy patches, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to a chemical, plant, food, animal or drug. See an allergist if the itching is persistent.

Hiccups

If you’ve frequently got a case of the hiccups, try slowing down when you eat and drink, suggests Dr. Plasker. Doing either too quickly causes your stomach to swell; this irritates your diaphragm, which contracts and causes hiccups. You may also get hiccups in emotional situations or if your body experiences a sudden temperature change. In both of these cases, the hiccups are a result of a glitch in your nerve pathways, which is why a sudden scare—which might shake up and reset your nerves—can sometimes end an episode.

Goose Bumps

Those tiny bumps that cover your skin when you’re cold or scared are actually a defense mechanism. Goose bumps occur when the arrector pili, a tiny muscle that connects the hair follicle with skin, contracts and makes the hair stand on end. If you had more hair—like cavemen did—the upright hair would trap air to keep you warm or make you look bushier and therefore more threatening to predators.

Sneezes

Sneezes happen when your body is trying to expel an irritant from the nasal cavity. If you have allergies, pollen or pet dander is usually to blame. If you have a cold, your body makes mucus to trap the virus, and sneezing helps force it (and the sickness) out of your body. An over-the-counter allergy or cold medicine helps suppress your reaction to allergens or reduce mucus production, which should prevent sneezing fits.

Coughs

A cough is another mechanism your body uses to get rid of irritants. There are special cells along your air passage, says Dr. Plasker, that recognize irritants and force them out. Common colds, sinus infections and pneumonia all increase your body’s mucus production, which triggers coughing. Smoking and asthma also tend to irritate the cells. To help cut down on chronic coughing, exercise regularly and practice good posture to keep your air passage open.

Charley Horses

These sudden, super-painful muscle spasms can be blamed on several things, including dehydration or electrolyte imbalances—often from strenuous exercise. After a demanding workout or an extra-long run, sip a sports drink to keep your system running smoothly. If you experience this type of cramping, walk around to help relieve the pain.

Shivers

Shivering, says Dr. Plasker, is full-body muscle twitching. When your temperature drops too low, your body shakes all over in an attempt to generate heat. The only way to cure these kind of shivers is to get your temperature back to 98.6°F.

Ear Ringing

Ear ringing, or tinnitus, can happen for two reasons. If you have fluid or an infection in your middle ear, you may hear a constant buzz. However, the more common cause is damage to the microscopic ends of your hearing nerves, which often happens when you’re exposed to loud noises. To prevent permanent damage (and preserve your hearing), wear earplugs at concerts and sporting events—or even when you mow the lawn.

Stomach Rumbles

As food, liquid and gas move through your digestive tract, your stomach muscles and intestines contract and cause rumbling noises—borborygmi is the scientific name. Everyone’s stomach makes noise during digestion, but if you have extra-loud rumbles, a teaspoon of olive oil or a cup of herbal tea with lemon may help ease them, says Dr. Plasker.

Limbs Falling Asleep

When there’s consistent pressure on part of a limb—like when you sit on your feet or rest your head on an arm—the pressure squeezes your nerve pathways and scrambles messages sent to your brain. The mixed messages make you lose feeling in the squished body part because your brain has trouble telling it what to do. To prevent a case of pins and needles, avoid sitting or lying in positions that compress your nerves.

Seeing Stars

If you stand too quickly, suffer a blow to the head or are stricken by a migraine, there’s a good chance you’ll see stars as blood surges to different parts of your body. Generally these tiny flashes of light will fade in a few seconds. If you see stars for more than a few moments, you could have a tear or tiny clot in your retina, and you should consult a physician immediately.

Ear Popping

The Eustachian tube in your inner ear is responsible for maintaining equal pressure on both sides of your eardrum. When you experience a rapid change in altitude—during takeoff in an airplane or when riding an elevator in an extra-tall building—the Eustachian tube opens to release pressure, and you hear a pop. To force the tube open (and “pop” your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed while exhaling forcefully through your nose.

Source: womansday.com via Neatorama

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Monday, May 25, 2009

Song of the Moment: I Got My Mind Set On You-George Harrison



A little blast from the past.

There's a special reason why I'm mentioning this particular song. Alyson Hannigan had this posted on her Twitter. I had no idea her hubby was in this video!.

Yep, that's Mr. Alexis Denisof in his pre-Wesley days (in the white t-shirt and jeans).

Who knew?!.

Boy, does he look young!. And he's still just as handsome today. That's what I call good genes ;).

That's the thing about being part of Hollywood I guess you can never escape embarrasing footage from your past *lol*.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

TSCC's Summer Glau thanks the fans

Dear Friends,

Here is my long overdue thank you note to anyone and every person who has watched our pride and joy Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles… Now that our season is done and I somehow feel far away, I want to say that it wouldn’t have been possible without faithful viewers; and it wouldn’t have been fun to make without such sincere interest from you…

I choose to post my note on Cristelle’s website so that I could also thank her for the beautiful work she has done, on my behalf, for this site. I come here to reminisce from time to time because she has posted so many of my best memories. Thank you Cristelle…

Anyway, I just want to say that acting for anyone who enjoys it is a privilege. Thank you all for helping make that possible. I am devastated that our show will not be back (Jameron forever!!!), but I can’t say that I’m ungrateful for the opportunity to be part of something so special. I’m really proud of what our team put together and eternally thankful to all of you for embracing what we were trying to do…

I love Josh very much and thank him. He pushed to make me part of this cast and created a series that was unique and beautiful. James Middleton held us together, staying with us everyday on set and talking us through every step… John Wirth and Jill Danton are all- stars that I pray I work with again….ALL of our writers. Toni, thank you for giving me Allison from Palmdale…

I was just going through my scripts this morning… (I thought it was time). I picked up-

“Born To Run”

written by Josh Friedman

I’m going to miss that so much. I’m really sad…

You know I’m not good at posting things but this is my effort. I’m not very brilliant, witty or poetic like my mentors (you know who they are) but I love you, S

Source: summer-glau.net

I've got 3 words for you Summer. Joss. Whedon. Dollhouse. ;)


Also I have to say that is a very nice site indeed compliments to the webmaster. I may just visit it from time to time to see what Summer is doing next.


Friday, May 22, 2009

Reason #526 why Tennis pros shouldn't quit their day jobs

I thought Martina Hingis appearing in a reality show was bad enough.

Well, I was wrong that was nothing compared to THIS autracity.



Is it a music video? is it a commercial?, who knows, and more importantly who cares?!.

Seriously, Justine do us all a favour and PLEASE come back to Tennis where you belong!.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Final few words from TTSCC's Josh Friedman

By now most of you have heard the news that T:SCC is cancelled. I received a call earlier today from Peter Roth at Warner Bros. and I appreciate both his personal and professional support throughout this show’s life. I know a lot of you are angry about the cancellation and want to find a place to direct your anger and to that I say do yourself a favor and find a way to move past it. Every network wants a big fat hit, especially one with a brand name behind it, and Fox was/is no different. They supported the show, they supported my vision of the show, and they gave it plenty of time to find an audience.

And what an audience we found: passionate, intelligent, kind of nuts in a good way. My only complaint about the T:SCC fans is that there aren’t ten million of them. But I prefer to be happy for the ones we had instead of lamenting the ones we didn’t.

Good shows are cancelled every year; smart shows, worthy shows, shows which move their viewers to write blogs and have viewing parties and create action figures and bury executives’ email accounts under thousands of messages. I miss Deadwood and The Wire and Arrested Development but thank God that I still have Rescue Me and The Office and a recently renewed Party Down written by ex-T:SCC writer John Enbom.

Bad shows are cancelled, too. And certainly there are those who did not like what we did and had their own vision for what a Terminator TV show should be. It’s easy to look at low ratings or cancellation as “failure” and for those who believe we’ve gone about this all wrong I’m sure today’s news will only serve to confirm a world view that I would never try to change. We’ve written the show as best we can, executed it to the best of our abilities, and sent it out in the world knowing that we worked out asses off to do something that wouldn’t be a waste of anybody’s forty-three minutes.

Thanks to a brave and talented cast, a feature crew working on a TV schedule, and everyone else who I could list but won’t because they know who they are. Mostly I’d like to thank those of you who’ve supported us and fought for us and given up hours of your life to watch our show. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about. The watching.

Hope we do it again soon.

Josh Friedman


Reading that helped to dull the ache a little, but I think the anger (and general bitterness) I'm still feeling will take a bit longer to get over.

And frankly seeing the new shows FOX has to offer in the fall didn't really help the situation one bit.

I'm curious to see what Josh Friedman will do next (hopefully something not involving FOX). Like I said the bitterness is gonna take a while.

Source: FOX blog

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

DWTS: The Finals pt. 2

It was nice to see all of this season's stars back on the dance floor once more. Some more then others.

Lil' Kim and Chuck in particular. I still can't belive that girl didn't make it to the finals. I demand a re-vote damn it!.

Btw. I think America did well with choosing the new professional dancer (who I guess will be replacing Julianne).

Anna Demitrova (sp?) seems like a wonderful addition to the DWTS family and I'm looking forward to seeing some of her routines as she whips the newest group of celebs into shape next season.

But enough about that moving on the highly anticipated finale. Each remaining couple took the floor one last time with their favourite dances.

Tony & Melissa reprised their sultry Samba (my favourite dance of hers). With a total of 86/90 it was close, but in the end she fell short.

It was a surprise since a lot of people had her pegged as the victor. Despite her loss I am so grateful to her for joining the cast.

If nothing else Tony finally got to show off his talents with an equally compatent partner. So thank you Melissa :).

I'm curious has Tony ever won the Mirror Ball Trophy? (I only started watching in S5).

Mark & Shawn
chose to reprise the Cha-Cha as their final dance (which got them their first 10 of the season) and performed it to perfection.

Cheryl & Gilles went with their sexy Argentine Tango once more ending up with a tie for first place with Shawn and Mark who received 88/90.

With the closest results the show has had in years. The viewers votes were all that was separating the champion from the runner-up.

In the end it was another Olympic athlete who took home the trophy as I predicted.

Though when I made that prediction last night I honestly thought Gilles' hotness would help garner him the necessary viewer votes to make him the winner, but I guess that can only take you so far.

Clearly the American audience was just as impressed with Shawn's skills in the free-style as I was.

I loved Shawn's expression of total surprise, and squeel of delight as she heard her name called at the end. It was a well deserved win and a thoroughfully enjoyable ride. Congrats to Shawn and Mark =).

I am already counting the days till season 9!.

If the new cast of celebs is half as charismatic and talented as this one has been, we'll be in for another great season. Looking forward to it.



Monday, May 18, 2009

DWTS: The Finals pt. 1

We are finally down to my favourite portion of the competion, and I couldn't have asked for a better beginning then a face-off in the Paso Doble.

As in years past each couple brought their own unique flavour to the dance. Shawn and Mark brought precision.

Melissa and Tony brought lots of intensity, and Gilles and Cheryl supplied the sexy factor.

Like I said nothing could be better.

I have to give all of them extra points for pulling off great routines to something as contemporary as Pink's "So What". That could not have been easy. So bravo.

The first round went to Gilles and Cheryl (unsurprisingly) who received a perfect score of 30/30 for their efforts.

Melissa and Tony came close behind with 29/30. Mark and Shawn came in third with 28/30.

They made up for the lackluster results with their Free-Style. Hitting the floor first, looking like as Tom Bergeron described a couple of Vegas bank robbers *lol*.

Changing into the regular glittery wardrobe half-way through the routine. Oh, but what a dance it was!.

Perfect execution of moves in unison. It felt very reminiscent of Helio Castroneves final.

It had everything one could ask for in a Free-Style, energy, fun, and plenty of tricks, flips and spins.

This dance was the perfect opportunity for Shawn to be herself and let her personality shine and she delivered!.

It was also nice seeing her dancing something more suited to her age.

She took risks performing some crazy awesome moves, and got rewarded for it receiving a perfect score from the judges. Kudos to Mark for his choreography. Superb.

Melissa and Tony chose an Urban style. And I have to say although enjoyble, the overall routine was kind of boring. The choreography was really lacking.

I expected Tony to really go for it, but compared to Shawn and Mark it just looked and felt kind of blah. The judges thought so too and only give them 27/30.

Gilles and Cheryl concluded the evening to a "Flashdance" inspired number (and song) that left a lot to be desired.

I was extremely disappointed I expected Gilles to jump ahead of the pack with some mind blowing choreography.

Instead what we got was something that would be given to any of the celebrities in the first week of the show. WTF?!.

Really Cheryl?. Really?. She give Gilles more complicated things in rehersal then what we got to see tonight.

Perhaps that shoulder was bothering him a lot more then everyone let on (which in turn forced Cheryl to change the routine). If not then it's a real shame. Because Gilles is capable of so much more then he was given.

The judges agreed and give him 28/30. Which earned him a total of 58/60 putting him in a tie for 1st place with Mark and Shawn.

Maybe Gilles should have taken his shirt off like Jason Taylor did with Edyta Sliwinska in S6.

I'm sure that would have garnered him a few more points at least ;).

Tomorrow we'll finally find out who gets the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Based on tonight's performance I think it should belong to Shawn and Mark.

They had by far the best routine in terms of content, and great chemistry to boot!. So I'm going with them for the win.

But you never know the audience may decide to stick with the judges favourite and make Gilles the champion.

We'll see. Till tomorrow night.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

'Sarah Connor Chronicles' will not be back

Sources confirm that not only has FOX officially passed on renewing Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, it’s even dead as far as Warner Brothers is concerned and they are no longer shopping it to other networks.

While this is hardly a surprise and some web sites have been reporting this cancellation for literally months now, given FOX’s surprise (to us and pretty much everyone but Joss Whedon’s Biggest Fan) renewal of Dollhouse on Friday, some might have still been hopeful.

I’m sure the fandoms will be in a tizzy over this, especially with the Dollhouse renewal, but it is what it is. By the way, the notion from some of the fans that we were ever out to get TSCC or Dollhouse, or any other show (OK, Bill might have it in for CW’s Privileged, but that’s another story) was always ludicrous. We thought it would be canceled, and it was, but we thought Dollhouse would be canceled and it wasn’t. And we’re not at all unhappy Dollhouse will be back. Confused perhaps, but not unhappy. We’d have been thrilled if TSCC pulled off the miracle too. But it didn’t.

Souce: tvbythenumbers.com

That's all folks. I had a feeling this would be the result. Especially after reading the news on Dollhouse earlier this week.

I knew only one show would survive FOX's budget cuts (and since Joss Whedon proved he could do it with less money he won).

Despite knowing all that I was still holding on to the very slim hope that FOX would change it's mind.

But instead they once again proved that they don't know what to do with a good show when they have it.

Figures just when the show gets really good, it gets the axe and my bad luck with shows I love continues *sigh*. It was great while it lasted. Thank goodness for fan fiction and dvds!.

I think Summer Glau should knock on Mr. Whedon's door and get herself a part in his show, and while we are at it maybe he could give Lena Heady one too.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The 'Study Ball' makes sure you stay on track

study-ball

Concentrating on work isn’t always easy, but for a student that would rather be out socializing, it’s close to impossible. Some students are committed enough that they can manage to concentrate on school work and ignore the nagging urge to slam the text book closed and go out. Well this Study Ball which is made to look humorously like a ball and chain can help the not so dedicated students stick to their studying goals.

This isn’t just a timer, it actually shackles to your leg until the set time is up. On the shackle itself it lists how much time you have left, so you can count the minutes down until you’re finally free again. The ball weighs 20.95 pounds, which is possible to move, but still a bit on the difficult side. So if there’s an emergency, you can still pick it up and run. It can’t be set for over 4 hours at a time and they suggest that minors not use this without adult supervision. It runs on 3 AAA batteries and will cost you 85,45€ or about $115.

Source: coolest-gadgets.com via Neatorama

What will they think of next! *LOL!*.

Friday, May 15, 2009

'Dollhouse' picked up for second season!

UPDATED: In a stunning move, sources say Fox has renewed Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” for next fall.

The official announcement will not be made until Monday at the network's upfront presentation, but sources confirm a deal has been struck for another 13 episodes. Fox plans to continue the show on Fridays next fall.

The low-rated series was last seen given up for dead by the media in a field somewhere.

But the show's DVR numbers are huge (averaging a 40% bump), online streaming is strong. It’s a sci-fi show, which tend to bring in strong ancillary revenue such as DVD sales for sister-company studio 20th TV. And it’s said that Fox execs rather like the series, especially the latter half of the season. Besides, a show airing in the fall on Fox is a bit like running in midseason on most networks -- it’s not the network's strongest part of the year and maybe ... maybe ...

All right, fine.

The move is tougher to explain than most, especially based on the show's ratings. A “Dollhouse” pickup is a shock, an underdog comeback that blows away NBC’s will-they-or-won’t-they hand-wringing over “Chuck” (psst, they almost certainly will). In fact, "Dollhouse" might very well be the lowest-rated in-season scripted drama to ever get a renewal on a major broadcast network. Almost certainly if based on where the show concluded -- a 1.0 among adults 18-49.

Basically this is a case of a bunch of minor decision-making factors successfully ganging up on the biggest factor (ratings). In addition to DVD sales, streaming and DVR influences, Fox received some serious budget concessions from 20th TV and Whedon to continue the show, with 20th now shouldering a greater portion of the load.

Another factor was the show's unaired 13th episode, which Whedon shot on a shoestring budget for the "Dollhouse" first season DVD set. Whedon presented it to the network as an example of how "Dollhouse" can achieve a high-quality production with a lesser budget.

The renewal also means Fox is bringing back all three of its freshman dramas for a second season -- "Fringe," "Lie to Me" and "Dollhouse" -- which is a nice boast in challenging year for broadcasters.

Along with NBC renewing low-rated "Friday Night Lights," and strongly considering modestly performing "Chuck," and the CW stations considering bringing back very weakly rated "Reaper," there's seeming trend this spring toward networks looking beyond live-viewing ratings when contemplating the fate of shows with passionate fanbases that they can monetize in non-traditional ways.

Last year, in the wake of CBS canceling fan favorites "Jericho" and "Moonlight," the sense was that vocal minorities could no longer sway the suits.

This year, cult TV shows have been like creatures in a George Romero movie; you can never trust that they're dead.

Source: thrfeed.com

I think I'll hold off doing the celebratory happy dance until the official word on Monday (I'll just do an internal one for now).

I was actually going to say that FOX is finally wising up, but then I read the part where they decided to keep the show on in the Friday timeslot. So never mind. Can't have everything I guess.

Also very happy to hear Better Off Ted got a pick up from ABC as well (woo-hoo!).

Now if we could just get the word on Sarah Connor Chronicles 3rd season pick-up my t.v. schedule will be complete *crosses fingers*.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

DWTS: Week 10 Semi Finals

The 4 couples left standing tonight, once again danced to Ballroom and Latin styles.

Instead of going in order of the dance as I have done all through this season. I'm going to re-cap in order of couples instead.

Melissa & Tony were the first tonight with their Quick Step.

And it was as pretty as Melissa's dress. But in the end I was forced to agree with Carrie-Ann again.

It seemed to lack a lot of the excitement and energy that makes it so much fun to watch.

The chosen song could have been a contributing factor as well.

Despite the luckluster comments from the judges they still received a great score of 28/30 (with the help of a 10 from Len) . Finally!.

And though Melissa's second Cha-Cha dance was much better, it still wasn't as great as what I'm used to seeing from her.

And the scores reflected that she only got a 27/30. Giving her an overall total of 55/60

I think Bruno was right when he said that she sort went in and out of the dance at times not fully committing to it. But with all that said I still think she deserves a spot in the final.

Gilles & Cheryl The French man finally showed off his romanic side with a beautiful Waltz.

And although I still prefer when he shakes his booty to the latin style, after this perfect performance there's no doubt in my mind that he's headed to next week's finals.

My wish came true when Gilles did a sexy Salsa for his second dance. Proving once again that he's the king of latin.

In fact whenever that man moves I forget he's French! *lol*. My t.v. signal went out just as they were about to announce Gilles scores. But I'm going to assume they were as good as the ones for his first dance.

Mark & Shawn fired up the floor with a superb Argentine Tango. I honestly don't know why Shawn worries so much. She's damn good!.

Bruno was also totally right the dance was very Chicago-like. With a perfect score she has definitely become the front runner for the trophy along with Gilles.

Her Jive wasn't as impressive according to the judges. Personally I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a lot of fun.

The scores reflected the judges opinions giving her 26/30. Making it an overall total of 56/60. Putting them in second place on the scoreboard.

Chelsie & Ty continued to try his best despite being out classed by the other 3 competitors. I don't think the Viennese Waltz tonight did him any favors though.

Not his best at all. And to add insult to injury Bruno and Len got into a tizzy over his performance. Poor guy.

The Samba didn't improve his chances either, but I still enjoyed it. I guess that southern charm really works.

With a total score of 48/60. I would say that he should pack his bags, but after last week's shocking elimination of Kim and Derek I don't know what to expect.

America clearly likes an underdog, and Ty is as underdog as you can get. But since we're now down to the best I hope the viewers do the right thing and send him home.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

A day for mom

Mother's Day

A Mother loves right from the start.
She holds her baby close to her heart.
The bond that grows will never falter.
Her love is so strong it will never alter.

A Mother gives never ending Love.
She never feels that she has given enough.
For you she will always do her best.
Constantly working, there's no time to rest.

A Mother is there when things go wrong.
A hug and a kiss to help us along.
Always there when we need her near.
Gently wipes our eyes when we shed a tear.

So on this day shower your Mother with Love.
Gifts and presents are nice but that is not enough.
Give your Mother a day to have some peace of mind.
Be gentle, be good, be helpful, be kind.

Happy Mother's Day.

~Carol Matthews

Source: mothersdaycelebration.com

Saturday, May 09, 2009

The ultimate geek pillow




I could SO fall asleep on that. Especially on a thunder, rain storm-y day like today.

Source: gizmodo.com

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Giant face street art

Innovative, or creepy?. You decide.


One of the scariest ticket validators I've ever seen *lol*


Source: Woostercollective.com via Neatorama

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Martina Hingis from Tennis to reality t.v.?



Source: hingis.org

Well, it has come to this Martina has been reduced to participating in British reality competitions. This one is called "Beat the Star".

I can't really call this a sport competition, at least not the first event (there were more then one apparently they just aren't included in the above clip).

Btw. you've got a Tennis legend like Martina Hingis, and all you can think of as a challenge is for her to throw peas into a bottle?. Seriously?!

The epitome of LAME.

Hingis does look nice and fit though, that's good to see. Hopefully she'll be back on the Tennis court before long.

Anyone know when exactly her ban ends?. Is it October of this year or the next?.

Monday, May 04, 2009

DWTS: Week 9 Ballroom & Latin Round

Well, we are getting awfully close to the end now with only five couples remaining.

Mark & Shawn started the night off with a wonderfully energetic, fun Quickstep. I thought her personality really shined in this dance. One of her best ballroom dances since the early weeks of the competition.

The judges were being real sticklers with their technicalities again (with the breaking the hold rule). Whatever, it was a great solo and a fantastic dance nonetheless. And 27/30 ain't so bad.

Ty & Chelsie were next with an intense Argentine Tango. I actually thought the attitude was more suited for a Paso Doble, but I have to command him once again for all his hard work.

He is by far the most improved dancer the competiton has had in a while. The judges give him 25/30 (his best score in a while as well).

Derek & 'Lil Kim followed with an elegant Waltz. We all know how incredible Kim is when it comes to fast dances (as she proved in the Latin round).

But it's nice to see that she can pull off the more delicate dances just as convincingly. It may not have been as good as her Latin but still a great effort. Earning her 25/30.

Cheryl & Gilles lit up the floor with a spicy Foxtrot. Nice to see Gilles back in his element, and a great score of 29/30. I think this dance will push him through to the semis next week.

Tony & Melissa Yes!, my favourite competitor was back this week(thanks to viewer votes) with a beautifully romantic Viennese Waltz.

Melissa moved so freely it looked like she was almost floating on the floor. The judges didn't seem too enthused, but despite their comments give her a 27/30. Ending the Ballroom portion of the competition.

Mark & Shawn were first again, this time with an impressively agressive Paso Doble. Even after all these weeks I'm still amazed with Shawn's versitility when it comes to dance.

She may freak out during practice sessions but she always brings her all to the dance floor with (as I've said in the past) surprising effortlessness.

I thought her Paso was very well done especially since the music they received seemed so unlike what you would hear for a Paso.

The judges agreed and give her a 29/30. Len was being his usual self and started knit picking again.

Chelsie & Ty even though I cannot help but love this guy with all his charm and humor I want him to go home this week. We're getting to the finish line and Melissa, 'Lil Kim, Shawn, and Gill remain the clear standouts.

Therefore they should be the ones in the top 4. Sorry Ty. I do admire him for trying his damnest though.

Even improving on his hip action tonight, perhaps showing off for his wife helped a bit. The judges give him 21/30 putting him at the bottom of the score board.

Derek & 'Lil Kim showed off their chemistry in a hot and sultry Salsa. The scores were surprisingly disappointing however.

I thought they deserved much higher then 27/30. There should have been at least one 10. The combined score for both rounds give them a total of 52/60.

Cheryl & Gilles danced a sexy Rumba. Boy, can that man move his hips!. Despite the fact I thoroughfully enjoyed the performance for once I have to agree with the judges.

At times the dance felt a little over the top, like he was trying too hard (to be sexy).

And as Carrie-Ann pointed out that's completely unnecessary. The man is a walking sex symbol, and I really hope he sticks around till next week.

Tony & Melissa what better way to bounce back from an injury then with a perfect score. Dancing the Samba put Melissa back at the top of the judges leader board with a total of 57/60. Way to go!.

Right now I'm having a very hard time deciding who I want in the top 2. I definitely think Melissa deserves a spot.

As for the second I'm split between Shawn, Gilles and 'Lil Kim. Hopefully after next week, the top contenders will become more clear.